Method and apparatus for purging unwanted substances from air

Abstract

An air filter for purging unwanted substances from air, the air filter comprising:an acid-purging stage, wherein the acid-purging stage comprises an air-permeable skeleton which has an acid-neutralizing substance mounted thereto, wherein the air-permeable skeleton comprises fiberglass fibers and the acid-neutralizing substance comprises sodium bicarbonate, and further wherein the sodium bicarbonate is secured to the fiberglass fibers using an adhesive; anda solvent-purging stage, wherein the solvent-purging stage comprises solvent-purging granules captured between two air-permeable screens, and further wherein the solvent-purging granules comprise activated carbon granules.

Description

REFERENCE TO PENDING PRIOR PATENT APPLICATION[0001]This patent application claims benefit of pending prior U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 098,440, filed Sep. 19, 08 by Francois Hauville for METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PURGING UNWANTED SUBSTANCES FROM AIR AND / OR NEUTRALIZING UNWANTED SUBSTANCES IN AIR (Attorney's Docket No. FIPAK-8 PROV), which patent application is hereby incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention relates to air filters in general, and more particularly to air filters of the sort which purge unwanted substances from air, i.e. to air filters which remove unwanted substances from air and / or neutralize unwanted substances in air.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Air filters are used to purge unwanted substances from air. By way of example but not limitation, air filters are commonly used in laboratories to purge unwanted substances from the air in fumehoods before the air is vented from the fumehood, e.g., to the atmosphere...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0050]Still other advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the present invention.

Problems solved by technology

While activated carbon granules are extremely effective in purging solvents from the air, they are largely ineffective in purging acids from the air.

However, these additives tend to reduce the effective surface area of the activated carbon granules, thereby reducing filter capacity.

Furthermore, these acid-purging additives are generally only modestly effective in purging acids from the air, and in many cases can comprise relatively toxic materials which may be released in the air by the air flow through the filter.

Thus, incorporating acid-purging additives within the activated carbon granules results in an air filter with reduced efficiency for purging solvents and which has only modest effectiveness for purging acids.

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